14/05/2008  Happy Valley  Race 3

TOP TOP LIGHT was withdrawn on 12.5.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter WINE WIN (Apprentice K T Yeung). SUPER HONEY was withdrawn on 13.5.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter MR COOL (P H Lo). Before being allowed to race again, TOP TOP LIGHT and SUPER HONEY will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TRULLI was slow to muster speed. From a wide barrier, TREASURABLE was taken back in the early stages. Shortly after the start, EVER BEAUTY and GOLDEN BALL were checked when crowded for room inside WIN-A-LOT (O Doleuze) which after initially making contact with GOLDEN BALL became unbalanced and shifted in further. O Doleuze was told in similar circumstances he would be expected to make a greater effort to protect his fellow riders. At the 700 Metres, AMO got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of EVER BEAUTY. In the Straight, EXTRA SPECIAL and TRAVEL CONSULTANT hung in. When questioned regarding the improved performance of the winner, WIN-A-LOT, Mr S Woods, trainer of the horse, explained two starts ago he was disappointed with the performance of the horse when it travelled in a good position and did not finish the race off. He said at its most recent start he dropped WIN-A-LOT back in distance to 1000 Metres and after being badly interfered with at the start the horse travelled in a rearward position and finished well back. He said he was disappointed with the manner in which the horse was ridden by G Mossé over the concluding stages, however, he did accept the horse had been interfered with in the run and even if it were ridden out more vigorously over the concluding stages it would still have been comfortably beaten. He said for this reason O Doleuze was engaged to ride WIN-A-LOT tonight in the hope that his style of riding would suit the horse which was having its first run at Happy Valley and stepping up in distance to 1200 Metres. He said in his opinion the horse appreciated the increase in distance and handled the track well at its first time of asking. When questioned, G Mossé (EVER BEAUTY) said the intention had been to have the horse ridden in a forward position if that was possible without riding along in the early stages. He said after being crowded for room shortly after the start EVER BEAUTY which was having its first race start at Happy Valley got further back than anticipated. He said EVER BEAUTY travelled fairly throughout the race, but was inclined to travel greenly at stages. He said on straightening he steadied and shifted out to obtain clear running, EVER BEAUTY then closed the race off only fairly. EVER BEAUTY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, EVER BEAUTY was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said the horse had sustained mild abrasions to the left hock and left hind cannon. AMO and EXTRA SPECIAL were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of AMO and EXTRA SPECIAL after the race did not show any significant findings. WIN-A-LOT and TRULLI were sent for sampling.